Cake or cracker box



(No Model.)

P. MILLER.

CAKE 0R GRAGKER BOX.

No. 416,414 Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

WITNESSES: gnu/51105: Wdmw. aw

By g ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND MILLER, OF OOVINGTON, KENTUCKY. I

CAKE OR CRACKE R BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,414, dated December 3, 1889.

Serial No. 319 ,566. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND MILLER, of Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cracker or Cake Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in cracker or cake boxes, the object being to construct the lids of abox used for the holdi ng and exhibition of crackers or small cakes in such a manner that they will securely close the receptacle, and also allow access to be had thereto if a number of boxes are piled one above the other.

A further obj ectis to furnish a cracker-box used for holding and displaying the contents with a means for protecting the glazed portion of the box from injurious contact of its lid therewith when opened.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, which will be herein described and claimed.

- in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing one lid partly opened; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same device, showing a different adjustment of lids.

In the retailing of fancy crackers andsmall sweet cakes of various kinds it has become a prevailing custom to provide astylc of reccp tacle which is glazed in front, and a small space allowed between the glass and a parallel wall, which is the actual side of the box. Between these vertical walls a number of crackers or cakes are arranged'neatly to show the character of the goods contained in the box. Ordinarily these boxes have a lid hinged at the rear edge, said lid closing the top of the box. When for economy of space in a store a number of these boxes are piled one 011 top of the other, producing a vertical tier with the display sides in front, it is inconvenient to be required to displace a number of boxes to reach the contents of a box near the bottom of the tier.

The peculiar construction of my improved display-box obviates the necessity of dislodging any of the boxes of a tier, convenient access being permitted and a secure closure of any opened box assured, as will appear in the following description.

A represents the box, which may be made of wooden boards or sheet metal. Preferably the latter-named material is employed. The front of the box for half its height is provided with the space for display of the contents, as before explained, a glazed exterior wall B being secured thereto in the usual manner.

At 1) a lid 0 is hinged, said lid being of such relative width as to close the box-front above the glazed wall B when it is in the position shown in Fig. 2. A portion of the top of the box is closed, preferably, one-half of its width from rear to front.

At the front edge of the fixed cover A the hinges a are attached, which also are secured to the lid E, permitting it to have free vertical vibration. The lid E is of a width to properly close the opening in the top of the box, its front edge aligning with the front face of the lid 0 when both are closed. Upon the front edge of the top lid E a wire loop or similar device 6 is affixed, so as to engage the latchbolt of the spring-lock h, which is of ordinary construction, and is secured upon the outside surface of the lid 0, it being adapted to engage the loop 6 when the lid is pushed shut and be released when the projecting button t is depressed or slid downwardly.

At cl two angle catches or hooks f are loosely secured in the vertical walls of the box oppositely, these angle catches or hooks being adapted to swing over the corners g of the box and bear upon either of the lids O E.

As the boxes A are used to transport their contents from the factory to any locality where they are to be sold, the angle catches or hooks f are of service to secure the front lid 0 and prevent accidental displacement of the same when the boxes are in transit, several boxes being placed .in a common package when they are shipped. The top lid E is convenient tofill the boxes, as crackers can readily be poured therein through the aperture provided when the lid is raised.

In retail stores, where a number of the cracker-boxes are arranged in a vertical tier, to economize space and make a compact display of the various kinds of crackers or small fancy cakes the front lid 0 becomes of service, as it can readily be opened on any box of a tier without disturbing others. \Vhen the front lid is lowered, the projections 0 will engage its surface and prevent the lock it from cracking the glass B. The-projections cmay be made of gum, or may be rigid. They are also useful to protect the sides of the boxes when a number of boxes are packed together for shipment.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with a cake or cracker box having hinged lids Whose free edges abut when both are closed, of angle catches or hooks pivoted to the body of the box and adapted to alternately engage either lid, substantially as described.

2. In a cracker-box, the combination, with a box havingliinged lids whose free edges abut when both are closed and a latching-lock for said lids, of opposite angle catches or hooks pivoted to the body of the box and adapted to alternately engage either lid, substantially as set forth.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a cake or cracker box consisting of a box having its front for half of its height provided with a space covered with glass for the display of the contents of the box and provided with two lids whose free edges abut when both are closed,one of the lids being above the glass covering the display-space of the box, and pivoted angle-catches for alternately engaging either lid, as set forth.

FERDINAND MILLER. \Vitnesses:

G. F. BAUDE, CHARLES BOZENSCHUTZ. 

